The midterm exams concluded, and the hurried days passed one by one, ushering in the cold December. The classroom was filled with students clad in down jackets. Wang Muman and her group had moved to the first row, near the classroom door, allowing them to see people passing by. The doors and windows of the classroom were all closed, fearing the intrusion of the wind.
"Manman, have you noticed something?" He Lele watched Yan Cheng standing in front.
"What? Noticed what?" Wang Muman looked at He Lele curiously.
"Has Yan Cheng grown a bit taller? I feel like he's a little taller than you." He Lele had just returned from the restroom with Wang Muman. Seeing both of them standing, she felt Yan Cheng had grown.
Yan Cheng heard the voice from behind and turned his head. "Really? I haven't even noticed it myself."
He Lele asked Wang Muman to stand up, knowing Wang Muman hadn't changed and was always with her, so she wouldn't notice the change. "See, I told you Yan Cheng grew a bit." She looked at their heads, noticing a clear difference.
Only then did Yan Cheng realize he was indeed quite a bit taller than Wang Muman. Could it be that his long-term persistence was finally paying off? Yan Cheng sat down again, started drinking his milk, thinking that action is better than contemplation. He would continue to persist and measure his height when he got back.
It was another math class, a painful hour for He Lele. After class, He Lele sighed, "Math tortures me a thousand times, yet I treat math like my first love!" He Lele recalled her experiences of being called to the office by Teacher Xu time and again, her face showing sadness. Seeing Wang Muman asking Yan Cheng a geography question, she leaned over, wanting to see what it was.
"Hey, I don't know this question either. Master, please explain it again!" He Lele found the question familiar, seeming to be from yesterday's homework.
Yan Cheng saw that Wang Muman also seemed to not understand, so he nodded and began explaining again.
"If you still don't understand, you can go ask the geography teacher. They'll probably explain it more thoroughly than I do, as I don't fully grasp it myself, and this is just my thought process," Yan Cheng said, suggesting they seek help elsewhere, fearing his own reasoning might be flawed.
Wang Muman, who had been asking many questions, already understood his meaning and could follow his train of thought, nodding at Yan Cheng.
"Wang Muman, someone is looking for you outside!" A voice called from inside the classroom, making Wang Muman feel strange. She stood up and walked to the door. Looking at the person at the door, she was even more perplexed.
"Song Zicheng?" Wang Muman called out his name, wanting to know his purpose.
"It's like this, you know I often host events. I'm here to ask if you'd be willing to participate in the Sucheng Youth Talent Show? The dean knows I'm a host, so he asked me to notify all the classes. I know you, so I came to you," Song Zicheng's words were a bit out of order.
"Then I'll get the arts representative. I'll consider whether to participate or not." She turned and called for Zhang Jiayi, not giving him a definite answer, and returned to her seat. Seeing Zhang Jiayi talking to Song Zicheng for quite a while, He Lele asked Wang Muman what was going on.
"You'll know soon," Wang Muman replied.
Indeed, Zhang Jiayi later asked the entire class, "We just received a notice that a few days before the winter break, there will be a Sucheng Youth Talent Show. It will be televised, and there are performance awards. December 12th is the preliminary selection, held at Sucheng Plaza. Students who wish to participate, please do so actively."
"Can we ask how much the prize money is?" Shi Kai asked the question everyone wanted to know.
"There will be famous celebrities present, as well as judges for commentary and scoring. The first prize is 1000 yuan and a mobile phone, the second prize is 500 yuan plus two amusement park tickets, the third prize is 200 yuan plus 100 yuan phone credit, and outstanding awards will also receive 100 yuan. Participation awards will include an amusement park ticket. It's truly very enticing." It seemed Zhang Jiayi's long inquiry wasn't without reason. "As long as you perform on stage, you'll receive a participation award. Therefore, I want to tell everyone that many people will participate, and you must have an outstanding or interesting talent performance to have a chance to be selected!"